Hotels in Lima

Compare the best Lima hotels

Like a masterpiece that has been clumsily painted over by a graffiti artist, Lima makes you peep carefully through its outer layers to see the real beauty beneath the foggy skyline and gritty street scenes.

Why go?

It won’t take long to do this and, whether you go for a beach pad or a city-based Lima hotel, you’re sure to enjoy this voyage of discovery...

In the capital and largest city of Peru, Lima hotels are usually packed with travellers hankering for adventures further afield in this vast and fascinating South American nation (in places such as Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley of the Incas, to name just two). It's a shame, because Lima has attractions aplenty, from historical treasures to modern architecture, and from lively markets and traditional folk music to peaceful swathes of parkland, where families lick ice creams during afternoon strolls.

Finding a cheap hotel in Lima is easy when you use TravelSupermarket to compare prices on the best hotel deals. To make even bigger savings, be sure to book Lima accommodation well in advance of your stay.

Where to stay?

Hotels in Lima are mostly located in the city centre, Lima Centro, and at beach-side districts to the south of the city...

The coastal areas include nightlife-laden and bohemian Barranco, and tourist hotspot Miraflores. These areas offer a variety of beach-side hotels, good Pacific Ocean surf and decent access to the international airport in Lima, which is around 30 minutes away. The districts are also well connected to central Lima, which is where manmade attractions lure visitors. The wealthy neighbourhood of San Isidro, which is between Miraflores and central Lima, is also a popular place to book hotels.

Stay in central Lima to be close to things to see and do around the stunning Plaza Mayor. Your money will stretch reasonably far in Peru, so you can upgrade to a luxury hotel if you fancy it. You'll feel special in one of Lima's country-club-style hotels, or enjoy splendid views in the city's modern skyscraper hotels. Small boutique hotels offer a more homely slice of hospitality, while there are plenty of international chains and independent budget hotels that represent excellent value for money.

Several of the major hotel chains have properties in the city. Look for properties from JW Marriott, Hilton, Westin, Sheraton, DoubleTree, Crowne Plaza, Ramada, Swissotel and Radisson.

What to see?

Spend some time getting to know Lima. These top attractions are great places to start…

Top five attractions

Catacombs at the San Francisco Monastery

Thought to be Lima's first graveyard, the catacombs are believed to house 75,000 bodies. Not for the squeamish!

Plaza Mayor

Look up and around this grand plaza – the old centre of Lima – and be surrounded by Peru's enchanting colonial architecture.

Inquisition Museum

Take a grisly tour of the dungeons and torture chambers used to question and punish people accused of heresy during the dark days of the Inquisition.

Museo de la Nacion

A must-see for historians, this is one of the world's great museums, charting the history of Latin-American civilisation.

Pachacamac

Just outside Lima lies this remarkable temple, which houses two giant pyramids in a 1,800-year-old compound made almost entirely of clay.

What's on?

With little rainfall and pleasant temperatures year-round, Lima can put on a fantastic array of annual events...

Semana de Lima; January: Each year begins with the locals taking to the streets to celebrate “Lima Week” – a series of street parties, fiestas and performances to celebrate the 16th-century birth of the city.

Peruvian Paso Gymkhana at Pachacamac; May: Some of the finest horses in South America are displayed at this incredible gathering. If you're impressed by dressage on the television, prepare to be blown away by the thoroughbred paso horses at this annual event.

Senor de los Milagros; October: Massive crowds dressed in purple gather for an historic religious procession through the streets. Be aware that you can be easily swept along by the enormous throng, so keep your wits about you.